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This one's coming from us, your editors. We've got a wardrobe that we'd like to turn into a more functional part of our bedroom/office. We were inspired by Danny Seo's fridge, and we know how to make chalkboard paint... but we're tempted by an easier way.

Contact paper. (Yes, you read that right.) We've seen the black stuff in use, and it's surprisingly convincing, especially when it has some chalk dust on it. And for $25, Amazon has a suitably enormous size for the vast expanse of IKEA cabinets that have to cover.

But, to be honest, we're having a hard time with the idea of using contact paper in general. It is made out of nasty PVC, though it's a relatively small amount. Then again, there's also PVC (used as an opacifier) in chalkboard paint. The contact adhesive is probably not so nice, either, but neither is the primer we'd have to use to get the chalkboard paint to stick.

This is the kind of thing that leaves us stumped. Here's a table to show what we're trying to sort through.

Contact Paper

Chalkboard Paint

Won't flake off

Might flake or peel

Made of nasty PVC, which we will see everyday

Requires nasty primer as base coat

Could be put on in a few hours

Will be an all-day or most-of-weekend project

is only 18" wide; doors are 19"+ -- how do we handle the seams? can we find wider contact paper?

paint doesn't have seams

Naturally, IKEA used to make chalkboard doors for our cabinets, but they've been churned right out of the store. (You can see them used to great effect in this kitchen by Krownlab.)

So, AT readers: the tables are turned. What do you think we should do?